10 August 2009 - Wellington has emerged the victors at the National Finals of the Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools Debating Championships, which concluded in Wellington this morning. Two Wellington teams met in the Grand Final of the Championships, held in the Legislative Council Chamber. The Wellington Black team of Carlos Bowkett (Wellington College), Maria English (Samuel Marsden Collegiate School), and Jodie O'Neil (Chilton St James School) eventually prevailed in a unanimous decision over Wellington Gold, affirming the topic "That citizens initiated referenda should be binding on government". The runner-up team of Wellington Gold comprised Nick Cross (Scots College), Julia Wells (Wellington East Girls' College) and Jasmin Moran (Chilton St James School). It is the 14th time in 22 years that Wellington has won the tournament. Christopher Bishop, the President of the New Zealand Schools' Debating Council which organises the tournament, said that the Grand Final was a superb debate, with the teams arguing over a complex constitutional and highly relevant political issue, with persuasive arguments on either side. "In the end, Wellington Black's argument that referenda were an important check on the power of the government won the day", he said. The two Wellington teams defeated ten other teams from around New Zealand on their way to the final, over five rounds of debating on topics ranging from whether or not trials by jury should be abolished, whether superannuation should be means-tested, and whether fertility treatment is a choice not a right. The Russell McVeagh New Zealand Schools' Debating Team were announced at the conclusion of the final. The team comprises Wellingtonians Maria English (Captain), Nick Cross, Jasmin Moran, as well as Josh Baxter (Auckland Grammar) and Aria Newfield (St Cuthbert's College). The New Zealand team will compete at the 2010 World Schools Debating Championships in Doha, Qatar. New Zealand are currently world champions, having won the 2009 World Champs in Athens, Greece, in February this year.